COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
529 AM EST FRI NOV 6 2009

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH
THIS WEEKEND...
NORTHEAST WINDS OF AROUND 25 MPH ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS WILL
GENERATE DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE ATLANTIC BEACHES OF
MIAMI-DADE...BROWARD...AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES TODAY AND THROUGH
THE ENTIRE UPCOMING WEEKEND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RIP CURRENT IS A 10 TO 30 YARD WIDE CHANNEL OF WATER THAT CAN
PULL EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER FROM NEAR OR INSIDE THE SAND BAR INTO
DEEPER WATER. DUE TO THE LIFE THREATENING DANGERS THAT THESE
STRONG CURRENTS OF WATER POSE...SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED.

IF YOU DO GO INTO THE WATER...SWIM AT GUARDED BEACHES AND HEED
THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL. IF CAUGHT IN THE SEAWARD PULL OF A
RIP CURRENT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE DIRECTLY TOWARD SHORE.
INSTEAD...MOVE SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE RIP CURRENT UNTIL THE PULL
EASES.

AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF ESCAPE IS TO LET THE RIP CURRENT PULL YOU
SEAWARD 50 TO 100 YARDS...WHERE THE FORCE WEAKENS...AND THEN SWIM
TOWARD THE BEACH AT AN ANGLE AWAY FROM THE CURRENT.

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